The U.S. House of Representatives may take up Congressman Mark Amodei’s (R, Nev.) H.R. 761, the “National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013,” this week.

The bill ties into the overall context of mineral resource security and our growing minerals deficit, an issue that is of critical importance to our nation’s manufacturing base, as evidenced by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s endorsement of the bill in July this year. In its endorsement letter, the Chamber made clear:

“Of the 25 top mining countries, according to the Behre Dolbear Group’s annual Ranking of Countries for Mining Investment Where “Not to Invest,” the United States is tied with Papua New Guinea for having the most mining permitting delays. As a result, the United States remains a major importer of strategic and critical minerals, despite having vast reserves, and has become increasingly dependent upon foreign sources for these minerals. H.R. 761 would reduce permitting delays while protecting the environment which would in turn increase domestic production of these much needed minerals.”

Another bill of relevance to our readers, which may be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives this week, is Rep. Paul Gosar’s (R, Ariz.) H.R. 687, which would approve a land swap for an Arizona copper mine – an issue that, as recently discussed by ARPN president Daniel McGroarty on The Hill’s Congress Blog, also ties into the context of our growing minerals deficit.

Having had a late start into the intensifying global race for resources, it is about time the U.S. take steps to finally address the issue in a strategic and comprehensive manner – or, as McGroarty phrases it:

“It’s time for the U.S. to adopt a 21st century critical metals strategy – and reform our ever-expanding process. The strength of the U.S. economy – and our national security – depends on it.”